Friday, October 26, 2018

This
will be the fourth time that we have offered this program, and we look forward
to having you join us in September. Our groups are small and our aim is to take
you away from the major tourist destinations to meet and experience the unique
culture of this wonderful country located in the heart of The Caucasus. We will
concentrate on introducing you to Georgia’s unique and passionate culture, and
to visiting some of the most remarkable countryside in Europe.

Old Tbilisi

October 07: Arrival
in Tbilisi, and transfer to our accommodation. Arrival times in the Georgian
capital may appear slightly eccentric, with many flights arriving between 0200
and 0300. Your rooms will be available from the afternoon of October 6th,
and you will be met and transferred to the hotel regardless of the arrival
time.

October 08:There
will be an optional walking tour at 10.00am for those who are up and ready that
will explore the quirky center of Old Tbilisi; we will see the city from each
side of the River and have an introduction to the remarkable stories of the
early days of this strategically important town. Lunch will be at iconic wine
bar, Vino Underground, for our first introduction to the glories of Georgian
wine.

October 09:The
morning will be free to rest and adjust to the time zone, or explore the
surrounding areas on your own. In the afternoon we will head out to Tbilisi to
explore the Old Capital of Mtskheta and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
This cathedral, founded in 1010, is one of the most sacred places in the
country and is a fine introduction to the importance of the Georgian Orthodox
church in the Georgian soul. Lunch at restaurant Dzveli Armazi in Mtskheta. Free
time. Dinner at Café Literra, the home of the well-known chef Tekuna
Gachechiladze.

Mtskheta, Georgia's old capital city

October 10: Today we will leave the capital
behind and head west. First to the unremarkable town of Gori, made famous only
because of its native son, Stalin. We shall visit the extraordinary, and rather chilling museum to his life before continuing over the Likhi mountains to
Kutaisi, with one stop in the Kvaliti village to meet and taste the wines of
Archil Guniava and finally arrive to Tskaltubo, our overnight stop. This resort
was built in the 1970s as a resort exclusively for high-ranking Soviet Naval
offices, and is makes a delightful and unique place to stay.

October 11:Today we climb the mountains.
After a coffee stop in Zugdidi, we will drive up the Svaneti Valley to Mestia.
This region is special, even by Georgian standards! The communities that
populate this valley are distinct and historically fiercely independent. We
will see some dramatic scenery, gorgeous mountains and villages that have been
here since the dawn of time. Finally, we will reach Mestia, the regional
capital and now a center for hiking, skiing and a variety of other
mountain-based activities.

October 12:Ushguli is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site; it is extremely remote and life here is redolent of the middle
ages. It has a collection of dramatic medieval towers, and lying as it does at
2,300m, it is the highest populated community in Europe. We will have time to
explore the village in some detail, and if the weather is clear, have a
dramatic view of Georgia’s highest mountain, Shkhara which towers some 5,100m
over the landscape.

Svaneti - an ancient part of an ancient nation

October 13:Today we head back down the
mountain to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second city, and an important provincial capital.
It is blessed with a two UNESCO sites, and we will visit one, the Gelati Monastery, built in the early 1100s by King David. It is not only an
architectural masterpiece, but also an important center of learning for
centuries, and one of the first schools in the region.

October 14:Today is a “Driving Day”; we shall start
the morning in the local market before driving east. We will stop for lunch at
Iago’s Winery, a charming family wine producer in the Kartli region. Iago’s
wine is remarkable, and his was the first winery in the country to receive a
bio-certificate for his vineyard and production.

Skirting Tbilisi, we will enjoy the three-hour drive toward the Azeri
border, and our next stop, this time for three nights, at Sighnaghi,

October 15:There are many opportunities for
sightseeing in this quirky town; we will spend time in the morning exploring
the town itself before driving a few kilometers away to visit the 9th
century monastery of Bodbe. It now functions as a nunnery, and is one of the major
pilgrimage sites in Georgia.

Following a short rest, we will have our dinner, a traditional Georgian
Supra, at Pheasants’ Tears. This restaurant and winery is one of the most
vibrant in the country, and an exciting place to meet some of the finest
Georgian wine, cuisine and be introduced to the unique polyphonic music.

Pheasants' Tears Dinner

October 16: We will spend today exploring the region
of Kakheti; we will see the main town of Telavi, and later visit the unusual
and quite remarkable winery of Alaverdi. Visit the monastery, and we will
continue towards Alazani where we will visit the family of young and
enthusiastic wine maker Shota. He is from the mountains of Tusheti, and will
cook Tushetian cuisine paired with the natural wines from the grower. Drive
back to Sighnaghi, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in
Sighnaghi

October 17:We will drive back to Tbilisi today and
have time in the afternoon for some independent sightseeing before our farewell
dinner at Azarpesha, a unique cultural restaurant in the center of Tbilisi’s
Old City.

October 18:Your departure from Georgia. Once again
your flight may have an early departure time, but your room will be available
to rest in prior to your airport transfer.

The
Price:

US$2,940
per person, based on sharing a double room. The supplement for a single room is
US$745.

The price includes:

·Four nights in Tbilisi at the Iota
Hotel

·Three nights in Sighnaghi at the Hotel
Kabadoni

·One night in Tskaltubo

·Two nights in Mestia and the Hotel
Tetnuldi

·One night at the Hotel Argo in Kutaisi

·Daily breakfast and lunch and ten
dinners

·Five wine tastings and two folkloric
performances

·All entrance fees and excursions as
detailed on the itinerary

·Transportation by coach throughout,
with 4WD vehicles for the day excursion to Ushguli

·Fully escorted by a local Georgian
guide and “MaxGlobetrotter”

·Airport transfers

·All local taxes

The price excludes:

·Items not specified in the itinerary

·Items of a personal nature

·Optional gratuities

·Credit card processing fees

To Book:

Reservations are handled by Top of the World Travel in Yellowknife,
Canada. A non-refundable deposit of US$750
per person is required to confirm your reservation with the balance due no
later than August 15, 2019.

To request a booking form please email me at max@ttjtourism.com.

All payments, once made, are non-refundable,
and we recommend that you consider travel insurance to cover any losses
incurred by cancellation for unforeseen reasons. Full details are available
from the agency.

The tour will be strictly limited to twenty
participants, and early confirmation is highly recommended.

Additional nights’ accommodation in Tbilisi is
available for US$75/person in a
double room, and US$120 for a single
room should you wish to arrive early or to extend your stay.

Extension programs, on an individual basis to
Armenia and/or Azerbaijan are also available upon request.